LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 740 million members worldwide. It allows users to connect with each other, search for jobs, read industry news, and more. However, many users complain that LinkedIn runs slowly or lags on their computers. There are several potential reasons why LinkedIn may be slow.
Possible Reasons for LinkedIn Being Slow
Here are some common reasons why LinkedIn can be slow on computers:
Large Page Size
LinkedIn pages tend to be heavy with large amounts of content, images, ads, and trackers. This results in long load times as all these elements need to download to your browser. The homepage alone is often 3-5MB in size which is enormous for a web page.
Too Many Tabs Open
Having multiple LinkedIn tabs and windows open taxes your computer’s processing power. Each tab consumes RAM and CPU cycles, slowing down page loading. Try closing unused LinkedIn tabs.
Old Hardware
Using outdated computers with low RAM, slow hard drives, and dated CPUs can make browsing LinkedIn painfully slow. Modernizing your hardware is the best way to speed up LinkedIn.
Too Many Browser Extensions
Browser add-ons like ad blockers help customize your browsing experience but running too many simultaneously can negatively impact performance. Try disabling unnecessary extensions when using LinkedIn.
Outdated Browser
LinkedIn works best on the latest browser versions. Using obsolete browsers like Internet Explorer that are no longer optimized for modern web experiences can really bog down your LinkedIn browsing.
Weak Internet Connection
Slow internet connections via dated WiFi, faraway routers, congested networks, bandwidth caps, etc can delay loading of LinkedIn’s content-heavy pages. Upgrading your network infrastructure can help.
Server Issues
Sometimes the problem lies with LinkedIn’s servers. Server outages, overloaded data centers, and other backend issues can temporarily slow down site performance. This is outside of your control.
Measuring LinkedIn Page Load Times
To identify if LinkedIn is objectively slow, you can measure page load times using online tools:
Chrome DevTools
Chrome browser has a Network tab in DevTools that shows page load performance metrics like request times, transfer sizes, etc.
PageSpeed Insights
Google’s PageSpeed Insights analyzes page load speed and identifies optimization opportunities. Add your LinkedIn URL to see if its slow.
WebPageTest
WebPageTest runs automated tests from different locations to measure page load performance and pinpoint issues.
Speedcurve
Speedcurve continuously monitors your site’s load times from multiple regions to detect performance regressions.
GTmetrix
GTmetrix grades your site’s page load times and performance using Google PageSpeed and YSlow metrics.
Tool | Metrics |
---|---|
Chrome DevTools | Request timing, transfer size, page load events |
PageSpeed Insights | PageSpeed score, Largest Contentful Paint, Time to Interactive |
WebPageTest | First Byte Time, Start Render, Load Time, Requests |
Speedcurve | Page load time from different regions |
GTmetrix | YSlow score, PageSpeed score, Fully Loaded Time |
How to Speed Up LinkedIn
Here are some troubleshooting tips to optimize LinkedIn and make it faster:
Clear Browser Cache
Regularly clear your browser cache and cookies to remove outdated LinkedIn assets hogging cache space. This forces downloading of fresh assets.
Use Faster Browser
Try using a speedy, lightweight browser like Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge for better LinkedIn performance. Avoid slow browsers like IE.
Disable Unnecessary Plugins
Browser plugins can slow down page loads. Disable any unnecessary LinkedIn plugins like sales navigator to streamline performance.
Upgrade Hardware
Upgrade RAM to at least 8GB for better multitasking, get an SSD for faster data access, use a newer CPU for improved performance.
Close Background Apps
Close any RAM and CPU intensive apps running in the background that can slow down your active LinkedIn browsing sessions.
Use Faster Internet
Connect your computer directly via Ethernet or upgrade to faster WiFi like 802.11ac or fiber internet for lag-free LinkedIn access.
Limit Chrome Tabs
Chrome slows down with too many tabs open. Follow the 1:1 rule – 1 LinkedIn tab for every 1GB RAM on your machine. Close inactive tabs.
Disable Animations
LinkedIn uses CPU-intensive animations like animated GIFs. Disable animations in your browser settings for smoother scrolling.
Use Lite Mode
Some browsers have “Lite Modes” that simplify web pages for faster loading. Try enabling this mode for the mobile LinkedIn site.
Adjust Image Quality
LinkedIn serves high-res images that are visually appealing but bandwidth-draining. Lower image quality settings for quicker loading.
Disable Autoplay
Stop videos and GIFs playing automatically. Autoplay uses bandwidth and slows your scrolling. Manually play media you want to watch.
Deactivate Tracking
Disconnect or Ghostery plugins can block intrusive ads and trackers that bog down page speeds. This makes LinkedIn leaner and faster.
Conclusion
In summary, LinkedIn’s laggy performance can be attributed to its clunky web design, old hardware, browser issues, network bottlenecks or server problems. Measure page load times to quantify if LinkedIn is objectively slow. Tweaking browser settings, upgrading PC components, using website optimization tools and disabling unnecessary functionality can help speed up LinkedIn for a smoother browsing experience.
As LinkedIn adds more features, companies need to be mindful of balancing website performance and functionality. Accessing LinkedIn’s services and data tools should not come at the cost of slow page loads. With over 740 million users, even minor improvements in LinkedIn’s web performance can save millions in collective productivity hours worldwide. Optimized web design is the need of the hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is LinkedIn faster on my phone versus my desktop?
LinkedIn’s mobile app and mobile site are designed to be lightweight with minimal features to ensure fast loads on slower mobile connections. The desktop site has heavier multimedia elements targeted towards bigger screens and faster broadband networks.
Are third-party LinkedIn apps faster?
Sometimes. Specialized apps like LinkedIn Sales Navigator are built for speed by trimming down unnecessary features. But other bloated apps can still be slow. Test different apps to see which is fastest for you.
Should I use LinkedIn Lite?
LinkedIn Lite is a stripped down, faster loading version of LinkedIn optimized for regions with slow networks. If you have an unstable connection, Lite can improve performance. But it lacks some functionality of full LinkedIn.
Is LinkedIn slowing down my whole computer?
It’s unlikely. Laggy sites affect their own tab/window performance mostly. But having many active LinkedIn tabs can consume enough system resources to slow down other apps. Close inactive LinkedIn tabs.
Does LinkedIn’s speed vary by region?
Yes, usually due to proximity to local data centers. LinkedIn serves you from the nearest server for lowest latency. More remote regions can observe slower speeds from distant servers. Your distance to servers impacts speed.